Architects look up to market’s famed roof

The market, which has 21 roof structures known to students as ‘asymmetric hyperbolic paraboloid shells’, also boasts what is claimed to be the world’s largest ceramic sculpture.

The building was listed grade II in 2005 and in 2007 was awarded the highest honour of the Concrete Society, the society’s prestigious Certificate of Excellence for a mature structure.

Today 100 students from Notingham Trent University are visiting the market.

The visit is a direct result of a study by postgraduate researcher at Huddersfield University Christopher Marsden, who is the co-ordinator of community group Huddersfield Gem, which campaigns for the market.

Mr Marsden presented his paper on the engineering and construction of the market’s roof at the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium in Acapulco, Mexico in 2008.

Amongst the delegates, from around the world, was Dr Marisela Mendoza, senior lecturer at the School of Art, Design and the Built Environment at Nottinghan Trent University.

Dr Mendoza marvelled at the building’s design and is now sharing its beauty with her students.

A party of IASS members from around the world is expected to visit the market in October.

Huddersfield Gem’s aims include the study, promotion and ensuring the future of the Queensgate Market Hall building. Gem will work in partnership with other groups and organisations to identify the best options for the building and its users.

De Mendoza is studying the legacy of Spanish architect Felix Candela, whose work went on to influence the ‘inverted umbrellas’ rooftop design of Queensgate Market, which was opened in 1970. Her research takes in the Huddersfield angle.